2/14/16

1

A study of the end of days

Part 3: It’s all about Jesus

The 3 main interpretational views of prophecy – thus Revelation:

Preterist (Post-millennial) – this view sees Revelation as historical record rather than predictive prophecy. Allegorical (A-millennial) – this view sees Revelation as an allegory of the timeless struggle between good and evil. Futurist (Pre-millennial) – this view sees Revelation as primarily predictive prophecy to be fulfilled in the very last days. It takes a literal approach to the Revelation.

2/14/16

2

Who wrote the Revelation? The author identifies himself as “John” four times:

1:1 And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

22:8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things.

When was the Revelation written? Two main views: •  It was written during the reign of Nero in A.D. 68 or

the reign of Domitian in A.D. 96. •  A.D. 68 is adopted by those who view the Revelation

as history •  A.D. 96 is adopted by those who view the Revelation

as future prophecy of the end times.

2/14/16

3

Revelation fulfills the great prayer of Jesus:

Mt 6:10 “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

The Revelation is set in heaven and on earth and its chapters jump back and forth from one place to the other:

Chapter 1 – heaven Chapters 2-3 – earth

Chapters 4-5 – heaven Chapter 6 – earth

Chapters 7-8:6 – heaven Chapters 8:7-9 – earth Chapter 10 – heaven

Chapter 11:1-13 – earth Chapter 11:14-19 – heaven Chapters 12-13:18 – earth Chapters 14-15:8 – heaven

Chapters 16-18 – earth Chapter 19:1-16 – heaven

Chapters 19:17-20:10 – earth Chapters 20:11-22 – heaven’s celestial city on earth

2/14/16

4

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

It is the “revelation” (singular) of Jesus Christ.

The book of Revelation is not about prophecy – it’s about Jesus Christ!

Revelation = apokalupsis: the unveiling (used 18x in scripture) Revelation is about the unveiling of Jesus to the world and the circumstances that surround that event. 1 Pet 1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

2/14/16

5

Faithful witness – 1:5, 3:14, 19:11 Firstborn of the dead – 1:5

Ruler of the kings of the earth – 1:5 Alpha & omega – 1:8, 21:6

Who is, was, & is to dome – 1:8 Almighty – 1:8

First & last – 1:17 Living one – 1:18 Son of God – 2:18 Holy & true – 3:7

Holder of the key of David – 3:7

Beginning of creation – 3:14 Lion of the tribe of Judah – 5:5

Root of David – 5:5, 22:16 Lamb of God – 5:6, 6:1, 7:9-10, 8:1, 12:11, 13:8, 14:1, 15:3, 17:14, 19:7,

21:9, 22:1 Lord, holy & true – 6:10

Word of God – 19:13 King of kings & Lord of lords – 19:16

Bright & morning star – 22:16

2/14/16

6

“Which God gave Him” = Revelation is God the Father’s gift to God the Son Phil 2:6-8 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

“to show His servants—things which must shortly take place”

•  Show His servants = doulous: a slave who serves out of

love & devotion (Ex 21:5-6)

•  Shortly take place = tachi: imminent, the return of Jesus could be at any time (22:6)

Mk 13:32 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mt 24:42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Acts 1:7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

2/14/16

7

Heb 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

“Signified it” = sign-i-fied •  Lamps = God’s people

•  Stars = angels

•  Incense = prayers

•  Dragon = Satan

•  Symbols are often more unchanging than words =

1 Thess 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

2/14/16

8

“By His angel” = 22:16 Acts 7:53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.

Gal 3:19 What purpose then does the law s e r v e ? I t w a s a d d e d b e c a u s e o f transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,

1:2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

•  John writes what he sees

•  And what he hears 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

•  Revelation promises a blessing to those who read and obey it (Js 1:23)

•  7 beatitudes: 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7,14

2/14/16

9

1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, •  Revelation is addressed to 7 churches in Asia Minor,

modern day Turkey •  Grace & peace = the standard N.T. greeting, one must

experience God’s grace before he can experience God’s peace

•  Who is, was, & is to come = present, past, & future

“and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,” •  Seven Spirits = Holy Spirit

•  Is 11:2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

2/14/16

10

1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Jesus is the:

•  faithful witness

Jn 18:37 for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth •  firstborn from the dead = prototokos: preeminence

Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

•  ruler over all the kings of the earth =

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Phil 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2/14/16

11

Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.